Police say danger comes with the job and hope the killing of an officer in west Auckland on Friday won't deter future recruits from a career in the force.
Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan spoke to The AM Show on Monday about the death of Matthew Hunt.
"Policing generally is a dangerous job, we join the New Zealand Police knowing it can be dangerous at times and we do everything we can as leaders to make sure it is as safe as it possible.
"But it is a job where we run to gunfire, we face danger, we walk towards it when everyone else walks away from it. But that is part of our job."
Hassan said she "doesn't believe" Hunt's death will stop people joining the police but they are making sure all officers have the right tools to manage the danger which comes with the role.
Hunt was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop along with another officer who sustained serious injuries but has since been discharged from hospital.
Hassan said she had visited the second officer, who has not yet been named.
"That officer is doing well. He was discharged yesterday afternoon, he's at home with his family and I will go and visit him again today.
"But by all accounts you can imagine there are really mixed feelings there. He has survived and for that he is very grateful to have his life, but he has also lost someone he was sitting beside in the patrol car."
On Friday night, a 24-year-old man was charged with Hunt's murder and on Monday an Auckland woman was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.
Watch the full interview on The AM Show.
